The Original Festival
Etymology
The Rath Yatra festival, literally translated as Rath: meaning chariot; and Yatra: meaning pilgrimage is an annual Vaishnav/Hindu festival. The festival celebrates Jagannath’s ( Krishna’s) excursion outside the majestic Jagannath temple on a brilliantly decorated chariot, or “Juggernaut” meaning ‘large truck’ or ‘chariot’ (an English word derived by western foreigners from the festival itself)
Background
The original festival has been celebrated for over 2000 years in the town of Puri, which is located on the east coast of India. Grand assemblies of thousands of people and over a million local followers of Jagannath pilgrimage to the festival site each year for nine days to invoke darshan (blessings) by glorifying the Jagannath's once a year excursion outside temple grounds. In total, up to five million people participate in this festival making it one of the biggest spectacles in India’s festival calendar.
Jagannath bedecked with flowers and garlands, alongside His delightfully decorated brother, Balarama and sister Shubhadra grace faithful onlookers in their carved wooden deity forms. The deity forms are made out of auspicious neem wood (drift wood), embodying the presence of Jagannath. These gorgeous deities are ritualistically carved, painted every eleven years and ornately adorned in strict isolation days preceding the festival.
During the four kilometer pilgrimage to and from the Gundicha Temple, the deities are paraded on three embellished temple like structures supported on three richly decorated chariots. The chariots are accompanied by enthusiastic kirtana (congregational chanting) sung by tens of thousands of local and foreign followers. Nearing the end of the festival as at all Vaishnav festivals, a large vegetarian feast prepared by over six hundred and fifty Jagannath temple cooks is served to all those who have participated in the auspicious festival. These cooks also cook hundreds of vegetarian dishes daily, fifty four of which are offered to the temple deities and the rest is given as prasadam to all.
The Chariots
Each year new chariots are constructed and decorated according to traditional colour scheme and decorations that reflect the qualities and unique style of each deity. The chariots are covered with yellow, blue, red and black stripped designs. All have a charioteer, Matali with Jagannath, Daruka with Balarama and Arjuna with Subhadra. Each also reigned with four horses of distinct colour, white for Balaram, dark for Jagannath and red for Subhadra. The chariots are then readily placed, for the commencement of the festival in a line across from the majestic temple near an eastern entrance gate known as the Lion's Gate.
The grandest of the chariots, Jagannath’s chariot is referred to as the Nandighosa, means tumultuous and blissful sound. It towers up to forty-five feet high and is forty-five feet squares at the wheel level and weighs up to 65 tons. This impressive chariot moves upon sixteen wheels, each of which is seven feet in diameter. A striking red and yellow cloth bedecks this imposing chariot, significantly illustrating the Jagannath's unique appearance as 'the one attired in golden yellow robes'.
Taladhwaja meaning the sound of significantly powerful rhythm, is known as Balarama's chariot. It rolls upon fourteen wheels also which are seven feet in diameter. festooned ornately with red and blue cloth, this chariot towers up to fourty-four feet high and also hoists a flag with an illustration of a palm tree making it quite noticeable from a distance.
Lastly, the chariot known as the 'Trampler of pride' also known as Dwarpadalana is Subhadra's chariot. This chariot towers fourty-three feet high, rolling upon twelve wheels that are a standard seven feet in diameter. It is adorned with a conspicuous canopy of red and black cloth that notably also refers to the traditional colour scheme associated with Shakti and Mother Goddess.
Significance
On a daily regulative basis the presiding temple deities are worshipped within the Jagannath temple and only journey outside the temple during the grandiose festival of the chariots.
All those foreign to India (born outside of India), whom witness this magnificent festival feel inherently blessed and deeply fortunate to have been able to receive blessings from Jagannath. This is particularly due to the ancient temple injunction that forbids any person foreign to India to enter the Jagannath temple grounds. Thus, making the chariot festival a significantly important pilgrimage for foreigners to part take in.
Furthermore, In a grand procession through the streets of Puri, the three admirably decorated chariots are pulled with ropes by seven hundred temple priests and devotees and enthused by crowds in the thousands. It is believed that the presence of Jagannath within His deity form spreads throughout the chariot and anyone who comes into contact with the chariot or its connecting ropes achieves the results of countless pious deeds and the auspicious results of great penance.